Device for securing a filter-carrying cup below the cup carrier of a coffee machine

ABSTRACT

A filter ladle is provided with twoside projections with a helical contact surface consisting of two portions with different pitches and engaging a shoulder on the end of bearing pins mounted under the ladle holder of a coffee machine. The device is useful for coffee machines.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for securing a filter-carrying cupbelow the cup carrier of a coffee machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In present coffee machines, the filter-carrying cups are introduced in acylindrical recess surrounding the pressurizer provided with its waterinlet sprinkling grill.

The securement of a filter-carrying cup in such a cylindrical recess isachieved by means of a bayonet connection combined with helicoidal rampspermitting obtaining simultaneously the progressive compression of thedose of ground coffee, previously introduced into the filter, beforesecurement of the filter-carrying cup to the coffee machine, and theseal between the edge of the filter-carrying cup and the cup jointssituated about the pressurizer, in the bottom of the recess. This is thecase for the patents FR-A-666,825, BE-A-894,192, FR-A-574,079 andDE-B-1,077,843.

To do this, the filter-carrying cup comprises, at its periphery, twodiametrically opposed projections adapted to engage in free spacesbetween two helicoidal ramps, located at the base of the interior of thecylindrical recess. It suffices, after having introduced afilter-carrying cup into said recess and having engaged its projectionson the lower end of the ramps, to exert, on said filter-carrying cup,with the aid of the handle with which it is provided, a rotative couplein the direction and with sufficient force to obtain both the temporarysecurement of the filter-carrying cup to the cylindrical recess, thecompression of the dose of coffee and sufficient penetration of the cupjoint to ensure sealing.

Removal of the filter-carrying cup, after the infusion has flowed outinto the cup or cups, takes place much more easily because it sufficesto exert a shock in the opposite direction on the handle of the cup, toobtain loosening of the edge of the cup relative to the cup joint andthe sliding, in the reverse direction, of the projections along thehelicoidal ramps, toward complete disengagement.

Such devices, although they give together satisfaction from a strictlyfunctional standpoint, nevertheless have certain major drawbacks, thatshould be emphasized.

First of all, the user must ensure precise positioning of thefilter-carrying cup relative to the recess, to obtain the engagement ofthe projections on the end of the ramps, which are, by their nature,masked from view.

Then, a rather great effort must be exerted on the handle of thefilter-carrying cup, to obtain the complete engagement of the filtercarrier in its recess, this force must be sufficient to overcome thefrictional resistances between projections and ramps; as a result, thereis a certain cumulative fatigue suffered by persons who by theiroccupation must repeatedly daily use coffee machines with thisconventional device.

Moreover, the helicoidal ramps are masked from the view of the operator,which is also the case of the sprinkling grill, of the compactor andabove all of the cup joint, which, located at the bottom of the annularspace delimited by the recess and the compressor, can be only verydifficulty inspected, cleaned and replaced.

As a result, these devices, given their difficulty of access, are noteasy to clean and do not satisfy the rules and regulations ofconstruction to ensure cleanliness and use of materials suitable forfoods (French Unified Standard 60.010 and USA Standard NSF (NationalSanitation Foundation) Standard 4, particularly).

Moreover, this type of construction requires the provision of members ofrather complicated shape, difficult to produce and as a result verycostly.

There is already known from Swiss patent CH-A-162,960, a devicepartially overcoming certain of these drawbacks mentioned above. Therecess comprises two diametrically opposed notches, opening outwardly;each notch providing two helicoidal ramps that are opposite andsymmetrical. The projections for securing the filter-carrying cup arereplaced by carrying rollers. Thus, the difficulties of engagement arein large part overcome, because the entry of the notches of the recessand the carrier rollers of the filter-carrying cup remain permanentlyvisible from the exterior, and as a result, by the operator. Add to thatthat the filter-carrying cup can be if desired locked against the cupjoint toward the left or toward the right.

However, the difficulties of cleaning remain, because the pressurizer,and above all the cup joint, remain masked from view and difficult ofaccess.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for its object to overcome these drawbacks.This invention, as it is characterized, solves the problem consisting ofcreating a device for securement of the filter-carrying cup below thecup carrier of a coffee machine, with which, on the one hand, theengagement and locking will be easy, and, on the other hand, theessential members such as locking ramps, sprinkling grill, compactor andabove all the cup joint, will remain visible and very accessible.

The securement device for a filter-carrying cup below the cup carrier ofa coffee machine, comprising diametrically opposed projections on theperiphery of the filter-carrying cup and abutment elements fixed belowthe cup carrier and coacting with the projections to obtain, under theinfluence of the rotation of the filter-carrying cup, the bringingtogether of this latter of the cup carrier terminating by the impressionof the sealing joint fixed below the cup carrier, is characterized,according to the invention, in that the contact surface of theprojections is helical, with an axis coinciding with that of the axis ofrotation of the filter-carrying cup, and in that the bearing elementsfixed below the cup carrier are constituted by two shouldered axles,disposed symmetrically relative to the axis of the cup carrier.

According to a preferred embodiment of the projections, the helicalcontact surface is in two portions of different pitches, of which thatsituated on the attack side of the edge has the steeper pitch and coversa sector permitting obtaining, by the corresponding rotation of thefilter-carrying cup, a rapid coming into contact of the edge of the cupwith the cup joint.

Also preferably, the shouldered axles are mounted freely rotatably.

The advantages obtained from this invention consist essentially in thatthe cleaning of the cup carrier is easy and satisfies safety standards,given the direct access to the cup joint for its cleaning or itsreplacement; the operation is easy thanks to a largely open introductionregion; and the construction is simplified and hence less expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages will become apparent from thedescription which follows, of an embodiment of a securement device for afilter-carrying cup below the cup carrier of a coffee machine, accordingto the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevational view of a cupcarrier below which is secured a filter-carring cup.

FIG. 2 is a view from above of the securement device according to FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a filter-carrying cup according to the invention in side view.

Finally, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coffee machine using theinvention, the figure showing the approach phase of the filter-carryingcup and the locking in position phase of said cup in the coffee machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The figures show a securement device for a filter-carring cup below thecup carrier of a coffee machine, whose filter-carrying cup 10 isprovided with two lateral projections 11 and 12, of which the helicoidalcontact surface is in two portions 13 and 14 of different pitches, andis adapted to bear on the shoulder 31 of shouldered axles 30 fixed belowthe cup carrier 20.

With more particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted firstin FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 in the direction of arrow F2, that a very widelatitude of presentation of the filter-carrying cup 10 relative to theshouldered axles 30 is permitted, then, referring to FIG. 1, that thecontact surfaces 13 and 14 of the projections 11 and 12 come, uponrotation of the filter-carrying cup 10, into contact by the attack edge15 against the shoulder 31 of the shouldered axles 30, then, continuingthis rotation by action on the handle 16, said filter-carrying cup israpidly raised, by relative freeing of the forward portion 13 of thecontact surface of projections 11 and 12 by the shoulder 31 of theshouldered axles 30. Given the steep pitch of this helicoidal portion,the engagement of the rear portion 14 of the contact surface permits,given its low pitch, obtaining sufficient penetration of the cup joint21 by the edge 17 of the cup, for a small force applied horizontally onthe handle 16 of the filter-carrying cup 10.

FIG. 3 shows the particular shape of the lateral projections 11 and 12which permits the securement of the filter-carrying cup 10 against theshouldered axles 30. Each projection 11 or 12 comprises two contactsurfaces 13 and 14.

The first contact surface 13 has a steep pitch, in that the angle ofinclination relative to the horizontal is comprised between 30° and 40°.

At present, an angle of 300 is the most interesting.

The second contact surface 14 has a low pitch, because the angle ofinclination relative to the horizontal is several degrees, namely 1° to5°.

When the handle 16 is moved in rotation in the direction of arrow F1,the steep pitch of the contact surface 13 permits rapid approachment ofthe filter-carrying cup 10 to the cup carrier 20, whilst the small pitchof the surface 14 permits efficacious locking, because the applicationof force is easy to regulate for the user, of said cup 10 on the cupcarrier 20.

What is claimed is:
 1. Device for securing a filter-carrying cup belowthe cup carrier of a coffee machine, comprising diametrically opposedprojections on the periphery of the filter-carrying cup and bearingelements fixed below the cup carrier and coacting with the projectionsto obtain, under the influence of rotation of the filter-carrying cup,an approach of this the filter-carrying cup to the cup carrier resultingin the impression of the filter-carrying cup with a sealing joint fixedbelow the cup carrier, whereinthe contact surface (13, 14) of theprojections (11, 12) is helical, with an axis coinciding with the axisof rotation of the filter-carrying cup (10), and that the bearingelements fixed below the cup carrier (20) are constituted of twoshouldered axles (30), disposed symmetrically relative to the axis ofthe cup carrier (20).
 2. Device, according to claim 1, wherein thehelical configuration of the contact surface of the projections (11, 12)is in two portions (13, 14) of different pitches, of which that locatedon an attack edge side (15) has the steeper pitch.
 3. Device, accordingto claim 2, wherein the portion (13) of helical shape with steepestpitch, located on the attack edge side (15) of the projections (11, 12),covers a sector permitting obtaining, by corresponding rotation of thefilter-carrying cup (10), a rapid contact of the edge (17) of the cup(10) with the sealing joint (21) of the cup.
 4. Device, according toclaim 1, wherein the shouldered axles (30) are free to rotate.